“Ok,” said Vanessa. “I’m going to search for some black sacks in the kitchen so we can clear the rubbish. Then we can start to sort through the books and stuff and get them back onto shelves, or at least neatly stacked out of the way.”
“I knew I did the right thing inviting you both here,” said Dani. “Seriously, though. Thank you. I don’t think I could face it alone. It’s been such a tiring week.”
“It’s what friends are for,” said Joey.
The trio worked for several hours, pausing only to eat a simple lunch that Dani had organised for them. Joey liked being able to help Dani, and she loved spending more time with Vanessa, who seemed particularly good at making sense out of the chaos of this flat.
“There, look,” said Dani. “I can see the surface of the coffee table now.”
“Hey,” said Joey, “look at this.” Her voice came from the older man’s bedroom, where Joey had been changing the sheets. Dani and Vanessa joined her in the small room. “They fell out when I opened the wardrobe to get the clean bedding.”
A shoebox had fallen to the floor, spilling its contents of photographs. They were black and white with tinges of brown. “They look really old,” said Vanessa, picking up one of the pictures.
“These must be members of your family, Dani,” Joey pointed out, looking through a handful of them.
“I don’t recognise any of these people,” said Dani.
“These must be at least a hundred years old,” said Vanessa, examining each one carefully. “Have a look at this one. These two look like they’re having a great time.”
Joey and Dani examined the photo Vanessa held. It showed two women wearing top hats and tails posing in a garden, arm in arm. They looked like they were laughing. “Oh my,” said Dani. “They look so cool.”
“They really do,” said Joey. “Look at those amazing suits. I’d love one of those.”
“I can imagine you in one,” said Vanessa in a low voice.
“Oh, you two are going to be sickening,” said Dani. “It’s started already.”
“Oi!” exclaimed Joey.
Dani laughed. “I wish I knew who they were. Do you think they were lovers?”
“I mean, you can’t tell for a fact from the picture, but look, they both have signet rings on their fingers.” Vanessa spoke as she examined one of the photographs more closely. “I can’t speak for Spain, but a hundred years ago in the UK, that was a secret sign that lesbians used to identify themselves.”
Joey looked at Vanessa in surprise. She was impressed with Vanessa’s knowledge. She wondered how different things might have been in Spain. Who were these women to Dani’s uncle? The way their arms rested casually around each other indicated a level of intimacy. It reminded Joey of the way she and Vanessa had held each other that morning.
“Look at this one.” Joey held up another photograph of the women, this time in plain skirts and blouses. They were sat side by side, turning their heads to look at one another.
“Not as thrilling, perhaps, as the suits,” said Dani, “but it definitely speaks of them being a pair of some kind. I wonder what their names were?”
“Ooh yes,” said Vanessa. “I think we should name them. At least for now, until your uncle can tell us more.”
“Good plan. This one on the left with the severe centre parting, I think we should call her Esther,” said Dani.
Joey pointed at the other woman. “She looks a bit more chilled. Maybe something like Gloria.”
“Yes,” said Vanessa, tracing the woman’s face. “She looks a bit like a free spirit. Her hair is curly and fly-away and look, one of her stockings is wrinkled.”
“That poor woman,” exclaimed Dani. “One hundred years on and we’re judging her fashion sense.”
“I mean it with love,” Vanessa laughed.
“I’m going to put these aside and when Uncle Sergio is feeling up to it, I’ll ask him about Esther and Gloria.” Dani gathered the pictures together in a neat pile.
“Glorious,” said Vanessa, stretching and yawning. “Excuse me.”
Joey looked at her, one eyebrow raised. Could she make it any more obvious what they’d been doing? Dani giggled. Vanessa smiled and then looked back at Joey, throwing a wink in her direction when Dani turned back to the task in hand.
That wink. Joey thought she might swoon. It promised so much, and Joey decided she wasn’t going to worry about anything but the here and now.